A 19-year-old from Osage Beach facing one felony possession charge and two misdemeanor charges for possessing marijuana or a synthetic cannabinoid and paraphernalia is being held on a ten-thousand dollar cash-only bond. Alex Johnette Peak was picked up Tuesday and taken to the Camden County Jail. Peak has, at least, one prior felony conviction for a drug possession charge out of Cole County. A probation violation hearing is scheduled for that charge in July.

A Camdenton man charged in three cases after a domestic dispute on New Year’s Eve will stand trial later this year. Corey Michael Wasil waived his formal arraignment in each of the three cases against him. The charges include unlawful possession of a firearm, kidnapping, domestic assault, and tampering with a victim in a felony case. His trial date has not yet been set.

A continuance has been granted on a drug and weapons case in Camden County. Mikel Lillard had been scheduled for an arraignment this week on nine counts, including unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, and possession and delivery of a controlled substance. Authorities allege that they caught Lillard with a gun, brass knuckles, LSD, methamphetamine, and marijuana after a traffic stop in January. His case was rescheduled for June 20th.

Grant money is being made available for organizations that may be at high risk for terroristic attacks. The Missouri Department of Public Safety says it’s the first time the grants have been open to groups located outside of major metropolitan areas. Churches, mosques, synagogues and other organizations can apply for up to $75,000 to use for planning, equipment, or training. The application deadline is rapidly approaching, though. You have to have your application submitted by June 4th. For more information call Theresa Stiles at (573) 301-2023 or Joni McCarter at (573) 526-9020.

The top-ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is joining a bi-partisan effort targeting the opioid epidemic. Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill released a report, on Wednesday, showing dramatic increases in the amount of illicit opioids continuing to cross over the borders into the U.S.. The report also shows the amount of fentanyl seized by border patrol agents increasing by more than 70-percent in a single year. Other key findings in the report show, between 2013 and 2017, that 98-percent of opioids interdicted by the border patrol were seized near the southern border while, in recent years, the trend has shifted to opioids being brought in through ports of entry and are being seized later well inside the US. The Senator favors a bill signed into law by President Trump arming the border patrol with more screening devices to help detect illegal opioids and sponsored a bill, herself, which reauthorizes Homeland Security to target trans-national criminal organizations along the border and at U.S. ports. McCaskill is also joining Republicans wanting answers about what efforts are being made to limit illegal drugs from being mailed into the U.S. from China, Hong Kong and other foreign countries.

The Overland Park, Kansas, man accused of being drunk while operating a boat that crashed into a rock bluff killing three of his buddies over the weekend is, currently, a free man. The accident happened early Saturday morning at the 47.5 mile mark of the main channel in Camden County. 22-year-old Hayden Frazier and two passengers were thrown into the water. The two passengers and another on the boat were pronounced dead at the scene while a fourth passenger was seriously hurt. A preliminary report issued by the highway patrol indicated that Frazier was being charged with three counts of BWI causing the death of another, one count of BWI causing serious injury to another and negligent operation of a vessel. Frazier was taken to the Camden County Jail and has, since, been released pending the completion of the investigation and the filing of formal charges.

A few road closings in Camden County could last awhile. Highway Administrator Lee Schuman says Freedom Ridge Road, Broad’s Branch, and Fiery Fork are currently shut down. Storm waters are causing the major problems at Freedom Ridge.

NEWS-5-23-18 Schuman Freedom Ridge - 23rd May 2018

Schuman says they hope to complete that project as soon as the water level goes down. Crews have not yet been able to assess the extent of damages caused by the latest flooding. The road was three-quarters completed when the latest rains hit. As for Broad’s Branch and Fiery Fork, neither road is in the budget for this year and the equipment needed is not available. Schuman says that since there are alternate routes for both locations, neither is a priority at this time.